Sun lamp



F. 'WOMMER Jan. 13,. 1942.

SUN LAMP Will/2* Filed July 24, 1939 m E. W w M E NM 0 E T V0 T NW 4h m E m Jan. 13, 1942.

F. WOMMER 2,270,099

SUN LAMP Filed July 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I, a

[N VENTOE EeEDE/a/c WOMMER ATTOE'NEKS Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUN LAIWP Frederic Wommer, Carver, Minn., assignor of onehalf to H. Lee Reynolds, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application July 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,124

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sun lamps and more particularly to such a device of the portable type, which may readily be carried about from place to place, and placed upon a table or other suitable support.

An object of the invention is to provide a sun lamp of the ultra-violet ray type which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide a sun lamp comprising a carbon operating mechanism adapted to be assembled as a complete unit, independently of the casing of the lamp, thereby to facilitate manufacture.

A further object is to provide a sun lamp comprising a casing provided with a suitable support and having a mechanism mounted therein for supporting the usual carbons, and whereby the gap between the terminals of the carbons may readily and conveniently be adjusted from the exterior of the lamp.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel construction of the operating mechanism or unit of the lamp, which comprises a suitable base member having a pair of arms mounted thereon and each provided with a suitable carbon holder; in the provision of means whereby the gap between the tips of the carbons may readily be adjusted by manipulation of an adjusting knob located exteriorly of the casing; in the simple construction of the supporting means for the resistance elements, whereby the operation of mounting the resistance elements on the base is greatly facilitated; in the novel construction and arrangement of the springs which hold the carbon supporting arms in place, and which springs have a three-fold function in that they (a) provide the spring means for constantly exerting an outward pressure against the carbon supporting arms to tend to separate the tips of the carbons; (17) hold the carbon supporting arms in place in the base; and (c) provide the electrical connections between the resistance elements and the carbon holder arms, which arms cooperate with said springs to complete the electrical circuit between the resistance elements and the carbons; in the unique construction of the carbon holders, which are made from high heat insulating material whereby they will not short circuit, should the carbons burn down to a point where the carbon holders may contact one another; and, in the novel shape of the carbons and carbon holders, whereby conventional carbons cannot be supported in the carbon holders.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of my novel sun lamp showing the manner of pivotally supporting the casing thereof on its supporting base;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the adjusting means for the carbons;

Figure 3 is a front view of the carbon operating mechanism or unit removed from the cas- 111g;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3, showing the arrangement of the springs which support the carbon holder arms on the base and supply current thereto;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing the manner of supporting the springs in the base plate;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view, showing the rear side of one of the carbon holders;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the carbon holders showing a carbon supported therein; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the carbons removed from the holder.

The novel sun lamp herein disclosed, is shown comprising a casing, generally indicated by the numeral 2, and comprising side walls 3 and a bottom wall 4, all of which may be formed from a single piece of metal or other suitable material. The front and rear edges of the side walls 3 are preferably provided with heads 5 adapted to be engaged by rolled edges 6 and I of front and rear walls 8 and 9, respectively, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The rolled edges 6 and T of the front walls 8 and 9 are so shaped that they engage the beads 5 of the side walls of the casing with a snap action, whereby said front and rear walls may be supported in place without screws or other separable attaching means. By so constructing the casing, its manufacture is greatly simplified, as will readily be understood. The front wall 8 has a suitable opening II, de-

fined by an inwardly turned flange l2, which provides a seat for a perforated closure l3, having an annular flange [4 adapted to be inserted in the opening II and frictionally engage the flange l2, thereby to removably secure the closure 13 in place. The closure I3 is composed of a fine, screen mesh which serves to protect the carbons "and prevent anyone from contacting the are formed between the carbons. The closure l3 also serves to prevent sparks from being thrown out of the casing. The closure is shown provided with suitable finger grips l5, whereby it may be con veniently removed from the casing or secured therein.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the casing maybe supported in a suitable U-shaped member [5, having its intermediate portion secured to a base I! by a suitable clamping screw [8. To prevent the U-shaped member it from relatively rotatingin the base 11, its intermediate portion is seated in a depression or seat l9 provided in the top of the base. The casing is pivotally supported in the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped member It by suitable clamping screws 2|, having finger knobs 22, whereby they may be conveniently manipulated. to angularly adjust the position of the casing on its base, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 1. The casing may readily be removed from the base by simply removing the screws 2!.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the novel construction of the means for supporting the carbons, generally designated by the numeral 23. The means for thus supporting the carbons is shown comprising an operating mechanism of unitary structure, generally designated by the numeral 24. This unit i best shown in Figures 3 and 4 and may be assembled independently of the casing, as shown in Figure 3.

The operating unit 24 comprises a base plate 25 of any suitable insulating material, shown having an insulating block 23 secured to the rear portion thereof. This insulating block provides the support for the usual contacts 21, to which a standard electric appliance plug and cord may be connected in the usual manner. The contacts 21 are alined with an opening 28 in the rear wall 9 of the casing, when the unit 24 is mounted within the casing, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The opening 28 is adapted to receive the plug of the usual appliance cord, as is well known.

A pair of resistance elements 29 each have one end electrically connected to one of the contacts 21, and their opposite ends to a pair of terminal post 3|, suitably secured to the base plate 25. Posts 32 are mounted in the base 25 and have spool-like supports 33 at their upper ends for supporting the resistance elements or coils 29 in the position shown in Figure 3. The spools 33 are of suitable insulating material, whereby the resistance wires or elements 29 are insulated from the supporting rods 32. The lower ends of the rods 32 may be removably supported in suitable sockets provided in the base 25, whereby they may readily be detached therefrom, when the resistance elements are removed from the supporting spools 33. The height of the posts 32 is such that the spools 33 will be so spaced from the base 25, that the resistance elements 29 must be somewhat stretched to position the intermediate portions thereof on the insulating spools 33. This is an important feature of the invention,

in that it greatly simplifies construction and assembling.

The means for supporting the carbons 23 is shown comprising a pair of supporting arms 34 which, to simplify manufacture, are shown made of suitable wire or small rod having their lower end 35 ofiset or bent atright angles to the arms, as shown in Figure 6, whereby they may be received in horizontally disposed sockets 36 provided in the base 25. The upper ends of each arm 34 are shown provided with eyes 31, adapted to receive clamping screws 38 which secure the carbon holders, generally indicated by the numeral 39, to the arms 34.

Each carbon holder 39, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, comprises a member 4i of suitable insulating material, having a recess 42 therein for receiving the eye 37 of its respective arm 34. The clamping screw 38 has a head 43 seated in a recess provided in the opposite side of the holder 4|, and from this head projects a threaded stem 44 adapted to receive a clamping nut 45, between which and the member 4|, the carbon 23 is clamped.

The member 4| of the carbon holder 39 as shown comprises a seat 46 adapted to receive a carbon 23. The seat 46 has a tongue or raised portion 48, adapted to be received in a groove 49, provided in the carbon 23, whereby the carbon, when seated in the holder 33, is actually interlocked with the carbon. By thus forming the carbon holder and the carbon, it will be noted that a carbon of cylindrical cross section cannot be supported in the holder, whereby it is necessary to use carbons of the particular shape shown in Figure 9.

The means for operating the arms 34 to adjust the gap 50 provided between the tip of the two carbons, is best shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, and is shown comprising a block 5| of insulating material having link 52 connecting it to the arms 34. A stem 53 has its upper end received in threaded engagement with the block 5| and is supported in a guide opening 54 provided in the base 25. The lower end of the stem 53 is also threaded to receive an adjusting nut or knob 55, which is seated against a small lever 53 having an elongated opening therein for receiving the stem 53. The inner end of the lever 55 is preferably rip-turned, as shown at 51, which upturned terminal is received in a small recess 58 provided in the base 25 of the operating unit. The opposite end oi the lever 55 extends outwardly through an opening 59 in the front wall 8 of the casing. A suitable finger piece or knob 6| is secured to the outer end of the lever 56, whereby the lever may be conveniently operated in a downward motion, to cause the carbons to contact each other, when properly spaced by manipulation of the adjusting knob 55, thereby to start an arc. A suitable cap 62 is shown Secured to the upper end of the stem 53 to provide a heater appearance.

Means is provided for constantly urging the carbon supporting arms 34 outwardly away from one another, and, as best shown in Figure 4,, comprises a pair of springs, generally designated by the numeral 63. These springs are best shown in Figures 4 and 6, and are constructed of suitable spring wire. Each spring comprises two legs 84 and formed of a single piece of wire, the intermediate portion of which is bent upon itself, as shown in Figure 4, to provide the legs, 64 and 65. The connection between the two legs is offset to provide a hook-like terminal 66. The

hook-like terminals 66 of the two springs 63 pass through apertures 61 provided in the base plate 25, and are received in recesses 68 provided in thebottom face of the base 25. Suitable washers 69 are shown seated upon the base plate 25 to limit the uncoiling or spreading action of the two arms of each spring 63.

The springs 63, as best shown in Figure 4, are so constructed that the legs 64 thereof engage the terminal screws 3| of the resistance elements 29. The opposite legs 65 are engaged with the arms 34, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, whereby the legs 64 and 65 are spread apart against the tension of the material from which the springs are made. It will be noted that the springs 65 engage the arms 34 at an incline to the common plane thereof, whereby in addition to exerting an outward pressure on each arm 34, the legs 65 of the springs 63 also serve to retain the offset terminals 35 of the arms in the sockets 35, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 4 and 6. It will thus be seen thatthe springs 63 serve a three-fold purpose in that they (a) provide the electrical connection between the terminals 3| and the arms 34; (b) they serve as springs to constantly urge the arms outwardly away from one another; and (6) they also retain the terminals 35 of the arms 34 in the sockets 36. The unique construction of the springs therefore makes it possible to assemble the carbon supporting arms 34 on the base without the use of screws or other securing elements. The arms may readily be removed from the base plate 25 by simply disengaging the arms 64 of the springs from the terminal screws 3|, whereby the springs are released so that their offset or hooked terminals 65 may be removed from the opening 81, thereby permitting the arms to be readily detached from the base plate 25, as will readily be understood.

The operating unit 24 may be assembled as a complete unit, as shown in Figure 3, with the carbons positioned in the holders 39 and properly adjusted with respect to one another before the unit 24 is mounted in the casing. The unit 24 may readily be secured in position within the casing by a single screw or bolt ll, received in alined openings provided in the base plate 25 and bottom wall 4 of the casing, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

By thus constructing the operating unit 24, the manufacture of the entire apparatus is greatly facilitated, in that the unit may be completely assembled independently of the casing, whereby it readily lends itself to manufacture in quantity production. The assembly operation is also extremely simple, in that the entire operating unit 24 may be readily inserted and secured in position within the casing before the front wall 8 is snapped in place, this being a very simple operation of mounting the unit within the casing. When the unit is secured in position in the casing, and the front wall 8 is secured in position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spacing or gap 50 between the upper terminals of the two carbons is adjusted to the proper gap by manipulation of the adjusting knob 55 provided at the lower end of the stem 53. After the carbons have thus been adjusted to the proper gap, the arc may readily be started by simply depressing the knob 6| to bring the carbons into electrical contact with one another, assuming, of course, that the contacts 21 have been electrically connected to a source of electrical energy.

The carbons 23 are constructed of a material designed to produce the desired light rays when the'lamp is in operation. The resistance elements 29, it will be noted by reference to the drawings, are connected in series with the carbons 23, and are of such size as to produce the desired are between the tips of the carbons 23. Because of the resistance elements or wires 29 being located directly back of the are produced by the two carbons, the infra-red rays radiating from the resistance elements may combine with the ultra-violet rays of the arc to produce certain desired effects.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the novel sun lamp herein disclosed, is extremely simple to manufacture and operate. Because of the parts of the operating unit 24 being so con-v structed and arranged that the unit may be assembled independently, all electrical connections may be supported directly upon the supporting plate 25 of the unit 24, whereby it is unnecessary to mount any of the electrical connections on the walls of the casing, and no screws are required to hold the parts together. This also simplifies construction and eliminates all danger of any electrical connections contacting directly with the walls of the casing and causing short circuits or shocks. The casing is provided with a suitable opening 12 to provide ventilation through the casing, as will readily be understood.

The novel sun lamp herein disclosed, is very compact and neat in appearance. Because of its novel construction, it is light in weight, whereby it may readily be moved about from place to place. The pivotal mounting of the casing 2 in the U-shaped support l6, permits the casing to be tilted to any desired angle to producethe desired results, and whereby the direction of the light rays from the lamp may be controlled.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sun lamp, a casing having a carbon supporting mechanism therein, said mechanism comprising a base of insulating material adapted to be seated on the bottom wall of the casing, a pair of upright arms pivoted in the base, a nonconductive carbon holder at the upper end of each arm each adapted to support a carbon, means operatively associated with said arms for varying the spacing between the carbons, and said carbon holders being arranged to prevent said arms from directly contacting each other, when the carbons are burned down to the carbon holders, whereby the lamp cannot become shortcircuited through said arms.

2. In a sun lamp, a casing having a carbon supporting mechanism therein, said mechanism comprising a base of insulating material adapted to be seated on the bottom wall of the casing, upright arms pivoted in the base, a non-conductive carbon holder at the upper end of each arm each adapted to support a carbon, means exteriorly of the casing having an operative connection with said arms, whereby the arms may be operated to vary the spacing between the upper ends of the carbons, and said carbon holders being relatively larger than the upper ends of said arms, whereby when the carbons are burned down to the carbon holders, said holders will contact each other and thereby prevent said arms from directly engaging each other and short circuiting the lamp.

3. In a sun lamp, a casing, a carbon supporting mechanism removably supported therein, said mechanism comprising a base member adapted to be seated on the bottom wall of the casing, a pair of upright current conducting arms pivoted in the base and having carbon holders at their upper ends, a pair of resistance elements having means for connecting them to an electric supply circuit, and spring elements constantly urging said arms apart and also providing electrical connections between said resistance elements and the arms.

4. In a sun lamp, a casing, a carbon supporting mechanism removably supported in the easing, said mechanism comprising a base member having a pair of carbon supporting arms pivotally mounted therein, resistance elements supported on the base and having means for connecting them to an electric supply circuit, and a spring member connecting each resistance element with one of said arms, each of said springs electrically connecting one of said resistance elements to one of said arms and at the same time retaining said arms in position on the base memher.

5. In a sun lamp, a casing, a carbon supporting mechanism removably supported in said casing, said mechanism comprising a base member having a pair of carbon supporting arms pivotally mounted therein, resistance elements supported on the base and having means for connecting them to an electric supply circuit, and a V-shaped spring connecting each resistance element with one of said arms, said springs having a three-fold function in that they electrically connect the resistance elements to said arms, retain said arms in position on the base member, and exert an outward force on the arms to separate the carbons.

6. In a sun lamp, a carbon supporting mechanism comprising a base member adapted to be secured to a suitable support, a pair of upright arms pivotally supported in said base and Drovided at their upper ends with suitable carbon holders, a connecting link between said arms, a pair of resistance elements having contacts for connecting them to an electric supply circuit, V-shaped spring elements each having one leg electrically connected to one of said resistance elements and their opposite legs engaging said arms, thereby to electrically connect the arms tothe resistance elements, said springs also serving to constantly tend to separate the arms, and also to retain them in their pivotal supports, and means exteriorly of the casing for adjusting the arms with respect to each other and therefore the gap between the carbons.

'7. In a sun lamp, a carbon supporting mechanism comprising a base member adapted to be secured to a suitable support, a pair of upright arms pivotally supported in said base and provided at their upper ends with suitable carbon holders, a connecting link between said arms, a pair of resistance elements having contacts for connecting them to an electric supply circuit, V- shaped spring elements each having one leg electrically connected to one of said resistance elements and their opposite legs engaging said arms, thereby to electrically connect the arms to the resistance elements, said springs also serving to constantly tend to separate the arms, and also to retain them in their pivotal supports, means connected to said connecting link for adjusting the arms with respect to each other and therefore the gap between the carbons, and a starting lever connected to said adjusting means, whereby a slight depression of the lever will move the carbons into electrical connection with one another to start the lamp.

8. In a sun lamp, a casing having an opening in a wall thereof for the emission of light rays, a unitary carbon supporting mechanism supported within said casing, said mechanism comprising a base adapted to be secured to a wall of the casing, a pair of arms pivotally supported in said base and each having a carbon holder adapted to receive a carbon, spring means constantly urging said arms apart, means operatively connecting together intermediate portions of said arms in insulated relation, an adjusting element operatively connected to said connecting means, whereby said means may be operated to vary the spacing between the carbon holders, and a lever operatively associated with said adjusting means and extending through an opening in the casing, whereby the terminals of the carbons may readily be moved into contact with one another by manipulation of said lever, thereby to start the arc, without disturbing the adjustment of the carbons.

9. In a sun lamp, a casing having an opening in a wall thereof for the emission of light rays, a

unitary carbon supporting mechanism supported within the casing and comprising a base adapted to be secured to a wall of the casing, a pair of arms pivotally supported in said base, a carbon holder of insulating material removably supported in the upper end of each arm, and each adapted to receive a carbon, spring means constantly urging said arms apart, means operatively connecting together intermediate portions of said arms in insulated relation, an adjusting screw operatively connected to said connecting means, said screw having a knob located exteriorly of the casing, whereby the adjusting screw may be operated to vary the spacing between the carbon holders, and therefore the terminals of the carbons, and a lever operatively connected to said adjusting screw and extending through an opening in the casing, whereby the terminals of the carbons may readily be moved into contact with one another by manipulation of said lever, thereby to start the arc.

10. In a sun lamp, a base, a pair of arms, a carbon holder of insulating material at the upper end of each arm, each provided with a seat having a tongue and groove, and a carbon removably and adjustably supported in each holder and each having a tongue and groove formed therein adapted to interlock with the tongue and groove in its respective holder.

11. A lamp comprising a casing having a carbon holder therein provided with a base, a pair of contacts mounted on the base, spaced posts extending upwardly from the base and having suitable insulators at their upper ends, and a pair of resistance elements having their ends connected respectively to the carbon holders and said contacts arranged to have their intermediate portions stretched over the insulators on said posts, thereby to support the resistance elements in operative positions on said base.

12. A lamp comprising a casing having a suitable carbon holder therein provided with a base, a pair of contacts mounted on the base and adapted to be connected to an electric supply circuit, pivoted arms electrically connected to said contacts and each having means for supporting a carbon, a pair of coiled resistance elements having their ends connected respectively to said pivoted arms and said contacts, and means for supporting the intermediate portions of said elements, comprising a pair of upright posts having suitable insulators at their upper ends over which said elements may be stretched,

thereby to operatively support the resistance elements on said base.

13. A lamp comprising a casing having a carbon holder therein provided with a base member, spaced current-carrying arms mounted on the base and each adapted to support a carbon at its upper end, a pair of contacts mounted in the base and adapted to be connected to an electric supply circuit, terminal posts mounted in the base, spring elements supported in the base and each having one end electrically engaging one of said terminal posts and their opposite ends the carbon supporting arms, said springs serving to support the carbon supporting arms in position on the base and also to conduct current from 15 said terminal posts to said arms, a pair of upright posts mounted in said base and each having a suitable spool-like insulator at its upper end, and flexible resistance elements having their intermediate portions supported on said insulators and having their ends electrically connected to said contacts and terminal posts, whereby the supply of current to the carbons must flow through said resistance elements, and the height of said upright posts being such that the resistance elements are placed under tension, when the intermediate portions thereof are engaged with said insulators.

FREDERIC WOMMER. 

